About Us

Institutional Review Board at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a federally mandated organization of scientific and non-scientific persons. Our charge is to review research studies involving human subjects to ensure subject safety and welfare and to ensure that any research study under our jurisdiction is in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. In addition, the IRB office staff provide administrative support for the institutional Scientific Review Committee (SRC).

Scope of Authority for the Tufts Health Sciences IRB

The Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University Health Sciences (TUHS) IRB has jurisdiction over the following:

Tufts Medical Center

Floating Hospital for Children

New England Eye Center

Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM)

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM)

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA)

Friedman School of Nutrition

IRBs

The Tufts Medical Center and TUHS IRB is divided into two IRBs, IRB-Red and IRB-Blue. Each IRB meets once a month. Each IRB is constituted and equipped to review any type of research study involving human subjects.

Investigators

The IRB office is available to assist investigators with the monitoring of research, preparation for site visits (for example, sponsor or FDA inspections), and to orient new researchers to human subject protection matters.

Study coordinators

The IRB office staff is also available to help provide orientation to new study coordinators, and to provide ongoing guidance to study coordinators.